The house I am buying has a septic system, do I still need a sewer scope?

To Scope or Not to Scope:

At Dwellinspect Arizona, we frequently get asked the question, “The house I am buying is on a septic system, do I still need a sewer scope?” The answer is always “Yes”. You should always have a sewer scope performed on the house you are purchasing, no matter what sewer system you have.

The reason we usually get asked this question is that in Arizona, the seller is required to arrange and pay for septic inspection prior to the transfer of sale (https://www.maricopa.gov/2491/Onsite-Wastewater-Ownership-Transfer), but this doesn’t cover the entire septic system. 

Home connected to city sewer system

Home connected to Standard Septic System

SEPTIC SYSTEM

CITY SEWER SYSTEM

During the sale of a home, the seller is only responsible for the septic tank portion of the system. A septic tank inspection will not address the line that leads to the septic tank. Therefore, to truly see the condition of the line and flow that lead to the septic tank, we need to use our equipment to perform a sewer scope.

We use a specialized camera and fiber optic cable that is inserted into the sewer lines to check for any damage, roots, blockages, improper installation, connection, etc. This can help to identify any potential or existing problems before the property is acquired.

Common sewer line issues

Getting a sewer scope for your potential home is always a good idea, even if the home is on a septic system. We want you to have the most information possible to be sure you’re making the best home purchase decision and to do that we highly recommend including a sewer scope in your home inspection process.